11.07.17

If you have yet to experience the immense joy that is weekday camping, we envy you. The first time you wake up in a cozy campground, make coffee under a towering tree, and zip home for a quick shower before you head to work is one that we wish we could relive. There’s a sort of secret pleasure in digging into a day’s worth to-do list with the satisfaction that you spent the night in the woods—it’s a soul-filling experience that we highly advocate.

Also, let’s not ignore the fact that Portlanders love to spend their weekend camping. Many of the campsites that might be booked solid for the foreseeable summer weekends will most likely feel like ghost towns on a Tuesday or Wednesday night. Snagging a primo spot at Beacon Rock State Park Campground or Lockaby Campground will invariably make you feel like a camping celebrity. Plus, there’s hardly a better way to delight your dog.

Each of the campgrounds listed below is somewhere between a 45-and 90-minute drive out of the city, proving that Portland is privy to some amazing gems in astoundingly close proximity. Keep in mind that this is by no means exhaustive; there are hidden gems everywhere (plus you can pitch a tent off of nearly any Forest Service road within a state forest or a national forest). So snag your best adventure bud and plan your next happy hour with the rivers and trees of your backyard. And, as always, above all: Leave No Trace.